Page 55 - Thola Issue 17

FUTURE EARTH,
FUTURE SCIENCE
Dr Tanya Abrahamse, CEO of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), spoke about Science and the Global Sustainable Development Goals for the 2014 Magqubu Ntombela – Ian Player Annual Lecture.
THE FUTURE WE WANT: AND THE CHOICES WE NEED TO MAKE
The Rio +20 agreement, arising from the proposal of a pre-Rio high level political panel co-chaired by President Zuma, made strong recommendations on the role of science in the future
we want, including recommending that the UN Secretary-General set up
a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Rio +20 also agreed to craft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a follow- up to, and with lessons learnt from, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
One of those lessons was that science needs must play a more pivotal role in achieving sustainable development. Science cannot be an island; its work needs to show relevance to the compelling human issues facing all of us.
ABOVE FROM LEFT: Allison Ruiters (Director of DNSM), Prof. Samson Mukaratirwa (UKZN), Thembinkosi Ngcobo (Head of PRC), Dr Tanya Abrahamse (CEO of SANBI), Jabulani Ngubane (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) and Guy Redman (Deputy Head of Libraries & Heritage) at the Ntombela-Player lecture.
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THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND THE ROLE OF SCIENCE
The SDGs represent the aspirations of the globe – the future we want. The drafting of these 16/17 SDGs has been
painstakingly panel beaten by over 150 nations. The implementation of these will require science to make a step change. Science will have to look at the way it works, how it communicates, how it engages with end-users, and its relevance to transforming the lives of people and overcoming poverty and
thola: VOLUME 17. 2014/15